The Ethics: Translated by R. H. M. Elwes, with Commentary & Biography of Spinoza by J. Ratner (Aziloth Books).

Benedictus de Spinoza's ground-breaking philosophy made him a controversial figure of 17^th century Rationalism and a major influence in the Enlightenment that followed.

Spinoza developed contentious ideas from an early age, resulting in his expulsion from Amsterdam's Jewish community when he was only twenty-three. Christian orthodoxy likewise repudiated his philosophy and the Catholic Church later issued a ban on all his writings. Undeterred and unrepentant, Spinoza the outcast went on to ...